The Boston Red Sox officially named Houston Astros bench coach Alex Cora as their new manager today succeeding the recently disposed John Farrell. Cora has a signed a three year contract with a club option for 2021.
News broke last week about Cora being named manager, but could not make the news official until after the ALCS which concluded last night.
The news is generally being received positively. Cora is no stranger to Boston having played for the Sox for three and a half seasons from 2005 to 2008 as a utility infielder collecting a World Series ring in 2007.
Although Cora, 42, has been considered managerial material since his playing days since retiring as a player after the 2011 season, Cora has mostly been an analyst for ESPN and served as the GM for the Puerto Rican national baseball team. It was until this season that he put on a baseball uniform again when he joined the Astros coaching staff.
I don't object to the Sox hiring Cora. I just wonder how long it will be before Red Sox Nation gives him the Farrell treatment. Will it happen if they get swept by the Yankees in their first meeting next season? Will it happen if they have a September collapse? Or will it happen if they win the AL East for a third straight year and fail to advance beyond the ALDS? Of course, Cora could lead the Sox to a World Series title out of the gate just like Farrell did (or for that matter Terry Francona before him). But that World Series title didn't buy Farrell much goodwill. Why wouldn't a similar fate befall Cora?
Again, I have nothing against the Sox hiring Cora. But regardless of who the team chose, I think Red Sox Nation is in for a rude awakening in 2018. Sometimes things aren't as simple as changing the manager.
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